The Sears David Bradley Trailer

oops!

 

found another trailer pic...no info however

cruiser was for sale at Hobi Vehicles in Portland, Oregon? no other info

 

Thanks for posting that, John. I'm going to paint my DB almost exactly that same dark green.

It's finally all back together - I just need to get it over to the body shop. Will post pictures of the finished trailer soon....

 

I like those finders

 

Several years ago there wasn't a thing on the internet about David Bradley trailers. Now forums have whole threads about them. I just joined after doing a google search.

First I want to let everyone know that the South Carolina trailer in post #50 is on EBay with a starting bid of $299. There are three days left to bid. If Texas was only closer to SC.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vint...dZViewItemQQcategoryZ80770QQitemZ170571001785

Below is a pic of my trailer. I've had it for about 10 years. Managed to get it for nothing from my wife's Uncle. It wasn't in good shape but the price was right. It had a hole rusted through the center of the original floor a foot in diameter and the rims were rusty and the valve stem holes rusted out so I had to use inner tubes. Wife's step dad got me a piece of sheet metal to lay in the bed to cover the hole.
After a few years of running inner tubes I decided to get new wheels. The original rims were a very shallow 2 and 1/8 inch backspacing. I goofed measuring when I had the axle widened for the deeper backspacing of modern wheels. I had the axle made too wide and instead of redoing the axle I trimmed the fenders a little to make sure the tires wouldn't rub. I wouldn't had done it if the trailer was as sound as the ones I see here but remember that it has that big covered hole in the bed so it didn't seem like that much of a crime.
It does have the data tag but I stupidly painted over it. I'll have to try to clean it up whenever I get around to giving it a new paint job.

 

Here is a thread on Jeepforum:

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f165/ben-hur-2-wheel-utility-trailer-willys-jeep-1140806/

 

Eric C. in Arizona sent the following photos of a Sears trailer that was given to him by his grandfather. It has had a few modifications made to it, but nothing that couldn't be reversed fairly easily. It's titled as a 1950, but given the early type 16" wheels, as well as the extremely low serial number - the lowest I've seen yet - it's almost certainly a late 1947 or very early 1948:




The data tag reflects the model number of 231-417, but has a different format than any seen here previously. The 231- prefix indicates that this trailer was made by Dunbar Kapple, rather than by Ben-Hur. As on the Ben-Hur version sold by Sears (see post #75 on this thread) this trailer's data plate reads "Order Replacement Parts by Mail Or Through Any of Our Retail Stores." The plate does not say David Bradley anywhere - so perhaps Sears marketed these trailers under just the Sears name at first (which may have occurred just after the end of production of the Ben-Hur version that Sears carried, but before they were sold under the David Bradley name).




This trailer has the rectangular channel axle and two-bolt front tongue connection. Note also the location of the data plate on the opposite side from the usual location:



It also has the short-backstrap, welded, single-knuckle type tailgate hinges:




This trailer also has a type of top bows, which may or may not be original, that I've never seen before. Based on the corner brackets, which are clearly factory-made, I'm guessing that they probably are original, but are a type that weren't sold very long before being discontinued:




Thanks for sharing these, Eric!

 

Here's a Ben-Hur model 22-47 with the original wheels and tailgate lettering (and the first one seen on this thread with the word 'Milwaukee' under the "BEN-HUR"):

 

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Where did you find this trailer or come across the pics?

Regardless, great find...especially if it found a good owner!


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I happened to come across the pics on the G503 forum - here's a link to the thread (from 2009):

http://web.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=152206&start=0

 

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Thanks!


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Cool - thanks for posting that, Patrick!

 

In case anyone watching this forum is interested, this DB with a homemade cover is currently listed for sale on the Atlanta Craigslist:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/2228726266.html

(The seller's name is Dave Griz, and he can be reached at dancingbearsagain@yahoo.com, or at 678-732-5608 )





This trailer is a model # 231-417, serial # 2638, which likely indicates that it was manufactured in 1948 (though it's titled as a 1964). Unusually, it has three original David Bradley wheels, the third one being the spare. The trailer appears to be in very good original condition overall, with the exception of the coupler having been replaced by a modern 2" ball version. One notable aspect is that it appears to still have the original reflectors. Here are a few more photos sent by the seller:

 

This is kind of a cool photo of a Ben-Hur model 22-46 or 22-47. It's been modified by the replacement of the original ball type coupler with a military style pintle hitch (and by the bending of the tongue!), as well as the addition of the spare tire & bracket and what appear to be rather large tail lights.

 

Has anyone determined the original color code for paint. I need to paint mine and might as well paint it the exact color green if possible. Thanks

 

Below is a good close-up photo of an original later-type 16" David Bradley trailer wheel. These rims were also used on certain David Bradley tractors (the 4 holes around the perimeter of the wheel were intended to allow the attachment of wheel weights).

In case anyone happens to be looking for one of these as a replacement or a spare, the one pictured is for sale in the "Miscellaneous Debris" Classifieds forum on this site. Here's a link to that post:

http://www.earlycj5.com/forums/show...vid-Bradley-Trailer-Wheel&p=940524#post940524

 

maury...thanks for posting that information about the DB rims....For those that are looking for these rims and information about the DB type trailer rims......I find it very helpful and informative to see these trailer posted here in this thread